talkmagic.co.uk

This was always a careful question as the way business is there's not much money to through about,what would you charge for a residency during the week for two hours?
Baring in mind this could get you work but not over night it would probably not come for at least 6-12 months you start seeing the effects.
What is your own view and why?

Thanks

Kris

Hi Kris,

Residency work is nothing like usual close up fees, they are normally anything from £80-£120 for a couple of hrs. But its a good opportunity to give out plenty of business cards and get some well paid gigs.

All the best

Steve

residencies are perfect if you are trying to shift to pro work.
a regular slot and guaranteed pay is goldust!

Dont ask for loads of money, immediately. Say that you will work less for your usual fee if they can guarantee a regular slot (following a trial day perhaps).
More money can be asked for later.

A regular job [EDIT: by this i mean a 16k a year office job!] pays £8 an hour. 8 x 8 = £64.
I want a full days pay for a 2 hour magic slot at least - its unsociable hours, and you have to travel. the other 6 hours are practice hours. So would suggest your entry level fee is £65 - £70 for your first residency depending on how local it is.


if you are effective, and you can see that business is booming when you are there, mention this to the owner and note how successful its been. do your own marketing for their restaurant. your job is to increase the popularity of the palce, so go the extra mile. You are a REP for the restaurant, act like it. I even made posters advertising magic night and dragged friends down there. If you can fill the restaurant, you can ask for more money. also the busier it is, the better it is.. more people see you, and you are offering a LOT to a restaurant. A good magician is also a good marketer when going pro.

i used to go in on my days off to eat also, which the owners love. i'd take a few friends, eat in the restaurant and thank them for an amazing meal (which usually came cheap or even free). It shows the owner you give a sh*t about the restaurant, and when you eventually ask for an increase in pay hes more likely to accept.

once you have made a success of one restaurant, get an amazing reference from the owner, and make sure it mentions INCREASE IN CUSTOMERS and INCREASE IN POPULARITY. Put it on the website, and make a client list to show new potential residencies.

Its easy going to a new restaurant and saying 'hi, heres what i can offer you, and it will be worthwhile'. Give them a free trial day and ask them just to cover your costs, even if its only £10. you want to make sure they know they are paying you. Getting the first £10 makes asking for the full pay easier.

Good luck.

I started out at £25 an hour, which was cheap and have recently gone to £35 and hour. This is for 2 hours a week guarenteed with extras such as Christmas parties on top. It is just bread and butter (I am not a full time pro) but it has got me so many jobs at parties, weddings, masonic dinners and childrens work all of which I get a whole lot more for.